Bridge for electrical conductors.



L. W. CROMPTON & E N. OLIVER. BRIDGE FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPLlCATION iLED 050. I8, 1914.

1,169,382. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

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I 51M 14 oz w"? HQ mm t UNITED STATES PATENT orrion LIONEL W. CROMPTONAND EARLE N. OLIVER, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

BRIDGE FOR ELECTRICAL GONDUCTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented J an. 25, 1916.

Application filed December 18, 1914. Serial No.'877,935.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that we, LIONEL W. CRoMPToN and EARLE N. OLIVER, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Tampa, in the countyof Hillsboro andState of Florida, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements inBridges for Electrical Conductors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention, animproved bridge for electrical conductors, is designedprimarily for use on open cleat or molding work.

The object of the invention is to provlde a simple, practical andefficient means for carrying or conveying an electrical circult over apoint, where, if not properly insulated, a ground or short circuit mightbe produced.

The invention also contemplates a novel means for fastening the circuitwires or conductors to the bridge.

The above and additional objects are ac complished by such means as areillustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings,described in the following specification and then more particularlypointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part ofthis application.

In describing our invention in detail reference will be had to *theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figureleis a perspective view of the improved bridge; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the bridge sections,its associatedretaining plate having been removed; and Fig. 4: is an endelevation of the section illustrated in Fig. 3.

Before proceeding with the description of the drawings, we desire tocall particular attention to the fact that while we have evolved ourinvention with reference toits use on open cleat and molding work, thesame may b readily utilized in a like capaclty wheresoever susceptible.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, 1 and 2 designate, as anentirety, the respective bridge sections, eachsection con;

sisting of a body portion 3 (preferably porcelain) longitudinallygrooved or recessed aslndicated at 4 for the reception of the retamingplates 5,-the top face of each plate be ng flush with the top of thebody 3. Any suitable fastening means such as is indicated at 6 may beprovided to removably fasten the plates 5 in place. Each section .of thebridge is provided with one or a plurality of longitudinal grooves 7open to the recess 5, the several grooves being adapted to receive theconductors 8 which are to be bridged or carried across one or more metalpipes or like conductive material by the sections 1 and 2, whenassembled.

As shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2, the sections of the bridge areeach provided with a horizontally fiat under face, a tapering top face,and vertical side and end walls, the adjacent walls of the respectivebridge sections being extended inwardly as indicated at 9 to partiallyoverlap the conductive material to be bridged. The extended portion 9 ofeach section is recessed as indictated at 10, one recess being providedfor each groove 7, and each recess being adapted to receive a suitablefiber tubing 11, the terminals of which fit the recesses 10 of I therespective sections when alined. By protheir respective extensions 9slightly overlapping the material to be bridged. Said sections 1 and 2are then fastened or held immovable by a suitable means such asindicated at 12. The conductors 8 are next fitted in the grooves 7therefor, said conductors first passing through the tubing sections 11,the latter being arranged, as shown to advantage in Fig. 2, with therespective tubing section terminals fitting the recesses 10 therefor.Next, the retaining plates 5 are fitted within the recesses 4 therefor,the plates being fastened as indicated at 6 to effectually hold theconductors 8 within the grooves 7 and the tubing sections 11 immovablerelatively to the sections 1 and 2.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsit is evident that the appearance of cleat and molding work is greatlyimproved; that a secure insulation against ground and short circuit isprovided; and that the device, although simple, is practical andeflicient and quite well adapted to the use for which it is deslgned.

In reduction to practice, we have found that the form of our invention,illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, asthe preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yetrealizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of our devicewill necessarily vary, we desire to emphasize the fact that variousminor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to, when required, Without sacrificing any of theadvantages of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bridge for electrical conductors including a pair of relativelymovable nonconductive bridge sections, means for fastening the sectionsimmovable, and means for fastening the conductors thereto.

2. A bridge for electrical conductors including a pair of relativelymovable bridge sections, each section being provided With a longitudinalgroove, and means for fastening the electrical conductors acted uponwithin the grooves of the respective sections, as and for the purposeset forth.

3. A bridge for electrical conductors including a pair of relativelymovable bridge sections, the said sections being adapted to be placedend to end, each section being provided with .a longitudinalrecess, aretaining plate fitting the recess of each section, each section beingprovided with a longitudinal groove open to the recess aforesaid, saidplates being adapted to fasten the electrical conductors to therespective sections and Within the respective grooves, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. A bridge for electrical conductors including a pair of relativelymovable nonconductive bridge sections adapted to be placed end to end,the adjacent extremity of each section being provided with a recess, therespective recesses being alined, a nonconductive tubing arranged'toextend from one to the other of the said sections, the respective tubingterminals fitting the recesses aforesaid, each bridge section beingprovided with a longitudinal recess and further provided with alongitudinal groove open to the recess and in line with the terminalrecesses aforesaid, and a retaining plate carried by each bridgesection, the respective plates being adapted to fit the respectivelongitudinal recesses to hold the electrical conductor acted upon Withinthe respective longitudinal rooves and the said tubing immovablerelatively to the respective sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

LIONEL l/V. CROMPTON. EARLE N. OLIVER. Witnesses:

E. B. SMITH, J. E. EUcLER.

